Growing Forward
The Global Food Institute and Food Tank are proud to present a weekly editorial series by thought leaders that spotlights innovative approaches to the most pressing food and agriculture system challenges. See all pieces in the series:
Together, We Can Build Better Food and Agriculture Systems
May 13, 2025
Read the inaugural essay by GFI's Carbonell Family Executive Director Stacy Dean.
Seeing the Signs: Pioneering New Tools to Get Ahead of Future Food Crises
September 23, 2025
Zacharey Carmichael, Senior Agriculture Economist in the World Bank Group’s Agriculture and Food Global Department, describes the Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard.
Putting Power in the Hands of the People: Q&A with Karen Washington
September 16, 2025
Farmer and activist Karen Washington knows that food is more than sustenance—it’s the foundation of strong, healthy, and connected communities. In a Q&A, she shares how she’s working to strengthen regional food and farming systems, and the power of community in times of instability.
Act Now: Join Young People in the Fight to End Food Waste
September 9, 2025
Regina Harmon, Executive Director of Food Recovery Network shares how students effort against food waste and hunger.
Steady Work, Lasting Change: How Maine is Leveraging Federal Nutrition Programs to End Childhood Food Insecurity
September 2, 2025
Justin Strasburger, the Executive Director of Full Plates Full Potential, shares how the non profit works tirelessly to ensure that all Maine kids are fed - every meal, every day.
Food for All: Addressing the Allergy Crisis to Build a Better Food System
August 26, 2025
Ilana Golant, founder and CEO of the Food Allergy Fund (FAF), shares why addressing the food allergy crisis is important for all people, though her lived experiences.
Lessons from Renewable Energy for an Agri-food Systems Overhaul: Q&A with Zitouni Ould-Dada
August 19, 2025
Zitouni Ould-Dada, Senior Advisor for the FAIRR Initiative shares how food systems reform can be a force for environmental, economic, and social restoration.
From Capitol Hill to the School Cafeteria: Q&A with Dan Glickman on Fixing Our Food System
August 12, 2025
Former US Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman reflects on the shifting politics of food and agriculture in a Q&A with GFI’s Priya Fielding-Singh.
From Scarcity to Abundance: Unlocking Solutions to the Food Crisis
August 5, 2025
Evan Fraser, the Director of Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, addresses growing concerns surrounding the stability of international trade, and the implications it might have on our food systems.
Food Is Medicine and the Future of Care Delivery
July 29, 2025
Pamela Schwartz, Kaiser Permanente's Executive Director for Community Health, shares how the the Food Is Medicine National Network of Excellence established approaches for integrating food-based interventions into health care systems and communities.
Hunger Is a Litmus Test—Of Our Values, Our Faith, and Our Future
July 22, 2025
Dr. Jeremy Everett, the founder and executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, shares the impact of the Meals-to-You initiative.
Designing Dietary Guidance for Everyone: Q&A with Sameera Talegawkar
July 15, 2025
Dr. Sameera Talegawkar spoke with Priya Fielding-Singh about chairing the first Health Equity Working Group for the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.